Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

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Introduction

The Missa de Spiritu Sancto for upper voices was the result of a commission from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 2001. As Lithuania is a much more predominantly Catholic country, this Mass was clearly destined for liturgical as well as concert use. The Kyrie creates a timeless atmosphere imbued with elements of organum. The Gloria, by contrast, is suitably exuberant and here the choral writing is more homophonic. For the softer sections the melody moves in octaves with the other voices providing harmonic colour in the middle. This style of writing is exploited more in the Sanctus where the parallel octaves are part of six-part cluster chords. To this jubilant chant the organ provides an accompaniment akin to a peal of bells. The more reverential Agnus Dei utilizes a simple four-part harmonized melody as a refrain. Juxtaposed with this is a minimalist organ accompaniment. For the concluding ‘dona nobis pacem’ all the elements come together but slowly work outwards towards complete freedom of expression. The result is celebratory and yet, as in so many pieces, never conclusive.

Recordings

Dubra, born in Riga in 1964, spent his early years under a Soviet regime for which any public performances of sacred music were not permissible. During his studies, Dubra began to test the boundaries of political acceptance in the last remaining y ...» More

Glory be to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men of goodwill.
We praise you. We bless you.
We worship you. We glorify you.
We give thanks to you for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God the Father.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
You take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you only are holy. You only are the Lord.
You only are the most high, Jesus Christ.
With the Holy Spirit
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.